Mike Lilja

Dayton, MN​

Mike first planted hazels in 2008 after a course on permaculture design inspired him to create a perennial cropping system. He continues to experiment with permaculture, growing hazelnuts among asparagus, raspberries, and more. In his free time, you can find Mike rescuing cats, taking photos, and presiding over the AHC board. His favorite hazelnut dish is fresh asparagus roasted in hazelnut oil.
​

Pam Saunders

Viroqua, WI​

Pam started farming as a young adult raising dairy cows. An early advocate for the organic farming movement, she spent her career with Organic Valley expanding the market for humanely raised meat and dairy. She and her partner, Tom, now run a nature retreat where she grows hazels among rows of oaks and native prairie. Her favorite hazelnut dish is a cheesecake with a hazelnut crust. 
​

Paul Ronsheim 

Barneveld, WI

Paul initially planted hazelnuts to preserve his eroding hilltop. He wanted a crop that would produce food while holding the land and building soil health, and thus, Blue Mound Hazelnuts was born. A retired materials scientist, he now applies his knowledge to the kitchen, where he presses hazelnut oil and mills hazelnut flour. His favorite way to use hazelnuts is simply frying an egg in hazelnut oil. 

Brad Niemcek

Gays Mills, WI

Brad's winding career in entrepreneurial pursuits led him to AHC as the company's first general manager. His agricultural pursuits started with keeping bees to impress his grandchildren, which led him to the world of hazelnuts! He now has 150 bushes, and his favorite dish is salmon filets grilled in hazelnut oil with hazelnuts sprinkled on top.

Tom Lukens

Viroqua, WI

Tom planted 200 hazels in 2014 just for their ecological benefits – with no intention of harvesting them. His partner, Pam, couldn't bear to let the delicious protein and healthy fats go to waste, so they teamed up with the American Hazelnut Company. In his free time, you can find Tom establishing native prairie and making walking sticks. Tom's favorite hazelnut dish is our very own HazelSnackers. 

Mary Hovel

La Crosse, WI

A dentist by day, Mary also grows hazels at her farm M&S enterprises (named after her pups Maggie and Squeaky, whose bounding energy helps control the critters).